UK Government virtual world “Safe Life.org.uk” hacked by pranksters-ha ha

By Janine de Blois

The story circulating around various websites today about a top-secret virtual world “Safe Life.org.uk.” seems to have originated at PC world Romania, by Ana-Maria Arsene , editor online.

If the Google search times are accurate they reveal that version was posted an hour before the first English version at Techworld, by John E. Dunn.

Some of the highlights include: Politically-motivated hackers invaded top-secret virtual world being tested by the UK Government to promote consumer security advice.

A previously unknown hacker group created avatars in bright orange jump-suits, criticising UK Government policies and “its unwillingness to make Linux a legal requirement for using a computer.”

Hackers, believed to be of Russian origin, drove around the site in specially-created Soviet-era Zil Limousines, defacing the walls with nationalistic slogans such as “We wrestle Bush naked like in Borat movie.”

A source saying “We had hoped that [UK Prime Minister] Gordon Brown might have made a virtual visit to the site using a Scottish avatar we created for him in the image of 13th Century hero William Wallace.”

And last, but not least, a Swedish security consultant commissioned by the government who will recommend that the future security of the country depended on ditching many malfunctioning IT projects in favour of the “selective re-introduction of paper-based systems, fax machines and type writers.”

Did anyone take this seriously? :-)